Periodic actuating device for electrically operated phonographs or the like



Feb. 25,1941. v a MILLS 2,232,925

, E. PERIODIC ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 .5 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 2,232,925 1941- B. E. MILLS PERIODIC ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 19, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 25, 1941. I B E. MILLS PERIODIC ACTUATfNG DEVICE FOR EIJECTRICALLY OPERATED PHONOGBAPHS OR THE LIKE .Ber ZT/VZZZJ Patented Feb. 25, 1941 PERIODIC ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ELEC- TRICALLY OPERATED PHONOGRAPHS OR THE LIKE Bert E. Mills, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 19, 1936, serial No. 96,713

6 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated phonographs or like machines, and has for its 7 primary object the provision in such an apparatus of a periodicactuating device whereby the machine may be caused to operate automatically after a predetermined time has elapsed since a former operation thereof.

Machines of this character are frequently located in restaurants and other public places and are usually coin-controlled, being adapted to be played whenever a customer inserts a coin either through a coin slide upon the instrument or a wall-box or other coin-receiving device suitably located in the room.

Incase the machine is not played for a considerable period of time customers may not be aware of its presence, or it may not occur to them to play it, although they might desire to do so if reminded of it by hearing a record played. The device of my invention serves to cause automatic operation of the instrument at certain times even though a coin has not been inserted, thus stimulating use of the machine through the power of suggestion.

Detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have disclosed the preferred form in which I have thus far contemplated applying the principles of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a phonograph apparatus to which the device of my invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view from the same angle as Fig. 3, but with certain parts broken away for convenience in illustration and with the operating mechanism shown in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but with the parts in still further operating positions, said view also illustrating in dotted lines the inoperative position of the device;'

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional View of the clock mechanism and the control cam associated therewith;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the clock winding member in relation to the clock member actuated thereby; and

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the clock-controlled switch and a wiring diagram showing the relation of the manually operable switch to be hereinafter described.\

The portion of the phonograph shown in Fig. 1 comprises a record carrier including a hub ll mounted on a shaft l2 and having record supporting members l3 radiating therefrom, said members rotatably supporting record tables l4 and being connected at their outer ends with a ring l5 extending around the entire record carrier, the structure being thus in the general form of a ferris -wheel.

I6 is mounted on the shaft 12 and is driven by means of a chain ll taking over a small sprocket l8 driven from a motor 29 positioned in the frame.

The playing mechanism includes the record table I4, 9. tone arm and pick-up device, generally indicated at 2|, adapted to be brought into place automatically when a record is presented at the playing stationshown at the center in Fig. 1, and to be removed upon completion of playing of a record, and a record drive mechanism including a motor 22, a drive shaft 22a, and a drive wheel 22b on the end of the shaft 22a, engageable with the edge of the record table 14 at the playing station.

The motor 22 is pivoted at 26 to a bracket 26a mounted on the frame member 33, and tends to move by gravity toward the record carrier.

.It is moved to inoperative position by the cam 20 formed by the outer edge of the ring l5, engaging a roller 23 mounted on a lever 23a pivoted at 231), the lever 23a in turn engaging a roller 22c on the motor bracket 22d, so that as the cam 20 moves the roller 23 outwardly, the motor 22 will swing away from the record table I4. I

Simultaneously, the hooked upper end 230 0! the lever 23a will engage a roller 2| a on the tone arm bracket 2"), causing the tone arm assembly 2| to swing upwardly away from the record.

The record drive motor 22 is arranged in the main circuit of the electrical system, so as to run continuously until the main circuit is opened by a suitable multiple coin control, adapted to cause continued operation of the phonograph through a number of playing cycles corresponding to the number of coins that have been de posited.

The complete electrical system is illustrated in my prior Patent No. 1,911,707, to which reference is made for further understanding of the phonograph mechanism generally illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 8 of the present disclosure, only those portions of the electrical system which are deemed necessary to a full description of the June 21, 1932. It includes a ratchet device I01,

adapted in an initial position to hold the master A relatively large sprocket switch I84 open, and to be ratcheted one step away from this position for eachcoin deposited, by a pawl I08 acted upon by coins delivered from coin chute I09. The switch I84 may cor- 5 respond to the switch 24, 21, 5I in said Patent No. 1,864,144, and the ratchet I01, pawl. I08 and coin chute I08 may beconstructed and. arranged to operate in manner similar to their counterparts I0, 88 and I8 in said patent. 10 A cut-oil switch 28 is closedeach time the tone arm is moved to inoperative position, said switch 28 serving to energize a solenoid I III which moves the ratchet one step toward switch opening position for each cycle of playing operation. Said cut-off switch and the operating elements therefor may correspond to the switch IOI, I02, and operating elements 95 and 99 shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 of said Patent No. 1,911,707. The record-changing motor I9 is stopped and started for each cycle of operation. Accordingly, while it is included in the main circuit, in parallel with the motor 22, it is individually controlled by two switches I05 and I26. The latter, which may be termed the running switch, is closed from the time the tone arm is partially lifted from the record in the initial stage of record changing, until the tone arm is again approaching the record near the end of the record changing operation. The switch- I28 is controlled by the upper end of the tone arm control lever 23a (see Fig. 1) being urged to closed position by a spring I26a, and allowed to close when the upper end of lever 23a moves forwardly in the tone arm lifting operation. It is opened by 85 the return of the lever 28a to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 1.

The switch I05 serves to close the circuit to motor I9 at the completion of the playing of a. record, it being so associated with the tone arm as to be closed when the pick-up 2| moves onto the idling groove at the end of the playing groove of the record. The record carrier will then commence to rotate and will move the lever 23a to a position to close the switch I26, which maintains the circuit closed while the switch I05 opens with the moving of the tone arm to an inoperative position. Since the tone arm will not again reach'the extended position in which switch I05 closes until the end of the.

operated in substantially the manner therein shown.

When records have been played for allcoins on deposited, the main circuit will be opened as hereinbefore described. This breaking of the main circuit takes place when-the record carrier is intermediate two playing positions, and the tone arm is in a raised inoperative position.

. 05 To this end, the cut-out switch 28 isv also associated with the tone arm, and is operated as the tone arm is raised to inoperative position.

The present invention becomes operative only when the phonograph has been inactivefor an 7 extended interval of time, and is operative to actuate the record changing and playing mechanism while the coin control remains inoperative-i. e., when the coin receiving arm III of the member I08 remains unengaged by a fl'coin. To this end, thedevice of my invention 3 provides an auxiliary switch 84, 85, connected by means of wires 8|, 82 to a solenoid 'l9,-adapted to move the ratchet I01 one step away from switch opening position, the same as if the ratchet had been operated by a coin, and there- 5 by cause the master switch to be closed.

Said device is supported upon a bracket 29 which is pivoted at 8I to an upright 82 on the frame 88 of the machine, and is yieldingly held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by means of a 10 spring84 secured at one end to a hooked extension 85 on the bracket 29 and at the other end to the upright 82. The opposite end of said bracket 29 has a vertical portion 85 which is slotted, as indicated at 31, and has an aperture 15 38 at the upper end thereof.

The clock mechanism, generally indicated at 89, is mounted upon a metal strap H which is pivoted at 42 to the member 29 and is adapted to be adjustably secured at its opposite end to 20 the arm 86 by means of a thumb screw '48 extending through the slot 81 in said arm 85 and through a return portion 44 on the end of the strap 4! opposite the end which is pivoted to the member 29. The portion of the strap 4| 25 which supports the clock mechanism and asso- -ciatedparts is of U-shaped formation, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The clock mechanism is contained in a housing 45 which is secured to said strap by means of screws 48 which also secure 30 in place a plate 41 interposed between said nous-- ing 45 and strap 4|. The clock mechanism contained in said housing may be of standard form, being diagrammatically shown at 48 in Fig. 6. Said mechanism includes a shaft 49 protruding 85 from the front of said housing 45 and carrying at its outer end a disc 5I, which is notched as indicated at 52, and has an arm 58 projecting therefrom, the outer end of said arm having a pin 54 projecting laterally therefrom and a roller 55 being mounted on said pin.

For purposes of winding the clock mechanism, I provide an arm 58 mounted on the inner end of a shaft 51 extending through a bearing 58 in the bracket 29, and carrying at its outer end 45 a sprocket 59 which is normally in mesh with the driving chain I! of the record carrier rotating nism in relation to the bracket. 29 upon which said arm 58 is mounted, this adjustment being v eifectedbymeans of the screw 43 in slot 81. 0b- 'viously"the arm 58 will be carried further away from its'intial position when the screw 48 is in a 'lowerpositionthan when it is in a higher position onfthe arm 85, and said arm adjacent said slot 81 may be graduated, if desired, to indicate diflerent positions corresponding to the' time which it is desired to have the clock mechanism operate before unwinding, which of course is proportional to the winding of said mechanism.

The plate 41 has an extension 5| extending up wardly and at right angles to the portion of said plate attached to the strap H (see Figs'. 3 and 5) and attached to said plate by means of screws 52 and insulation 88 are two switch arms 84, 85

having contacts 66 and 61, respectively, at their lower ends. Said arms 64, 65 are, made of spring material so that the switch is self-opening, the normal position of said" members being shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

A switch closing member 68 is pivoted at 69 on the casing 45 of the clock mechanism and is of bell-crank formation, having a roller II on the outer end of one arm thereof and a pin I2 on the end of the other arm. Said bell-crank member 66 is normally urged in counterclockwise direction, viewing Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, by means of a spring 60 positioned on the pivot 69. The pin 12 thus bears upon the periphery of the disc 5| and is adapted to drop into the notch 52 when said disc is in position to permit this to occur. The roller II on the other arm of said bell-crank member is adapted to bear against the switch arm 64 to close the switch when said pin I2 is in said notch 52, as shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings.

When the clock mechanism is wound by action of the arm 56 on the roller carried by the arm 53 on said disc 5|, which is rigid with the shaft 49, said pin I2 rides out of said notch 52' upon a rounded surface I3 on one Side of said notch, andit will be evident that the distance the disc 5| is rotated will depend upon the adjusted position of the strap 4|. The paths of movement of the outer end of the member 56 and the roller 55 on the member 53 are shown in dotted lines in Figs. 4 and '7, from which it will be evident that when the roller 55 has been moved to the dotted. line position shown in Fig. 4 (or, in case of a different adjustment, to the position shown in Fig. 7), the member 56 will pass inside said roller, thus allowing the clock mechanism to begin to unwind, the disc 5| moving therewith back to its original position. When it reaches said position, the pin I2 on the member 68 will drop into said recess, permitting said member 68 to be rotated in counterclockwise direction by the spring on the pivot 69, thereby closing the switch, as shown in Fig. 4.

For the purpose of causing a sudden snap action in the closing of the switch, I provide an inner disc I4 freely mounted on a collar I5 on the shaft 49 and having a notch I4 corresponding to the notch 52 in the disc 5| but having two straight side walls I6 instead of having one of said walls rounded as in the case of the cam portion I3 on said member 5|. Said disc I I has limited movement relative to the disc 5|, which has a lug II projecting therefrom into a slot II in the disc I4,

- the length of said slot determining the extent of relative movement of said discs. When the clock mechanism is wound, the pin I2 rides on the cam surface I3 of the disc 5|, the member I4 being readily moved in clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 4, relative to said disc 5| so that it will not interfere with the gradual rise of the pin I2 outof the recess 52 in said disc 5|. Upon the return of said discs toward the position of Fig. 4, however, the pressure between the pin I2 and the periphery of the disc I4 will hold the latter back so far as permitted by the stop 11 so that said members 5| and I4 will assume the relationship shown in Fig. 4. When the pin I2 reaches the edge of the recess in the member I4 itwill then drop into said recess and into the aligned recess 52 in the member 5| with a sudden snap action, thus closing the switch contacts 66, 61 quickly. This causes the circuit controller including the member I01 previously mentioned to operate, thereby closing the playing circuit, causing the record carrier to move the record into playing the movement of the record carrier causing a further actuation of the arm 56 by reason of the intermeshing relationship between chain l1 and the sprocket 59, thus rewindlng the clock mechanism.

The wire 82 includes a manual switch 83, a mechanical embodiment of which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By means of this manual switch, the circuit may be opened, if desired, so that oper-- ation of the mechanism hereinbefore described will have no effect upon the playing circuit. Furthermore, if it is not desired to use the device, the clock mechanism and associated parts, including the arm 53, may be moved out of the sphere of action of the member 56 by lifting the strap 4| to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, inwhich position the thumb screw 43 may be inserted through the aperture 38 in the bracket 39 and screwed into the threaded return portion 44 of said strap 4|, in manner which will be evident from viewing said Fig. 5. I

The operation of the device, it is believed, will be apparent from the foregoing description, but may be briefly summarized as follows:

With the clock mechanism in position for operation and. adjusted to provide a desired time interval between the winding of the clock and the closing of the switch 56, 61 to cause an automatic playing of the machine, the first rotation of the record carrier will wind said clock mechanism to the extent permitted by the adjustment. If there is no playing of the machine for the interval of time for which the clock mechanism is set, it will be caused to play automatically when the clock mechanism unwinds to the point of permitting the pin I2 to drop into the recess 52 in the disc 5|. The movement of the record carrier incident to the positioning of said record will immediately rewind the clock. If a coin should be inserted to play the machine before the clock mechanism again unwinds, the latter will be rewound by the action of the member 56 on the roller 55 carried by the arm 53, so that the automatic playing of the instrument is caused only when the full period of time for which the clock is set el'apses without an intervening play initiated by insertion of a coin by a customer. The relationship of the members 5| and I4 is such that the closing of the switch occurs with a quick snap action, as previously described, but the pin I2 on the switch closing member 68 may be gradually moved out of the notch 52 in said member 5| by reason of the rounded side I3 of said notch 52 and the loose mounting of the member 14 in relation to the disc 5|. The circuit in which the switch 66, 61 is located may be broken by means of the manual switch 83, or the device may be moved to inactive position by the adjustment illustrated-.-in dotted lines in Fig. 5, but, so long as the device remains in its active position, the machine will be operated periodically in the absence of an intervening play which will rewind the clock mechanism.

It will be evident that the switch 64, 65 is operated only at the end of the period for which the clock mechanism is set, since it is only at the end of such period that the pin I2 on the bell crank 66 can enter the notches 52 and I4 on the discs 5| and I4, respectively. This period will be normally much longer than the period required for the playing of a record, and, as previously indicated, when the record carrier is operated to change records either upon insertion of a new coin or as a result of the previous insertion of a plurality of coins, the clock mechanism will be rewound to the full extent permitted by the adiustment of the parts 4| and 38, which determines the relationship between the winding member 56 and. the roller 56 on the arm 53. As a result, the switch 64, will be permitted to close only at the end of a predetermined period of time after completion of the playing of a record or a series of records for which a coin or coins have been inserted in the machine.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph including record changing and playing mechanismsand a coin-operated control for normally causing operation of said mechanisms: means for periodically causing actuation of said control to operate said mechanisms when the control has not been actuated by a coin for an extended interval, said means comprising a timing device, means actuated by a part of one of said mechanisms during each cycle of operation thereof responsive to the deposit of a coin for initiating action of said timing device in a timing period enduring beyond the completion of said cycle of operation and into an interval thereafter when said mechanisms may be at rest, and means arranged to be actuated through the action of said timing device at the end of said period and operatively connected to said control for causing actuation of the latter to start a new cycle of operation of said mechanisms notwithstanding that said control is not operated by means of a coin.

2. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph comprising record changing and playing mechanisms and electrical means including a power circuit and a coin-operated circuit controller for normally causing operation of said mechanisms: means for periodically causing operation of said playing mechanism when the circuit controller has not been actuated by a coin, said means including a timing device, means operated by a part of one-of said mechanisms for causing said device to start running during a cycle of operation of said mechanisms responsive to the deposit of a coin, and means controlled'by said timing device and operatively connected to said control, said means being-operable after an extended interval subsequent to the termination of operation of the playing mechanism and without actuation of said circuit controller by a coin for causing the closing of said circuit to start a new operation of the playing'mechanism.

. 3. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph comprising record changing and playing mechanisms andelectrical means includ- 1 ing a power circuit and a coin-operated circuit controller for normally causing operation of said,

mechanisms: means for periodically causing operation of said playing mechanism when the circult controller has not been actuated by a coin, said means including a timing device, means operated by apart of one of said mechanisms for causing said device to start running during a cycle of operation of said mechanisms responof rest aforesaid.

tion of operation of the playing mechanism and without actuation of said circuit cbntroller by a coinforicausing the closing of said circuit to start a new operation of the playing mechanism, and means whereby said timing device may be adjusted to vary the timing period.

4. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph comprising record changing and playing mechanisms and electrical means including a power circuit and a coin-operated circuit controller for normally actuating said mechanisms: auxiliary means operable without actuation of said circuit controller by a coin for causing operation of said controller to close said circuit and thereby start a new cycle of operation of said mechanisms after they have been at rest for an extended interval following the completing of a cycle of operation initiated by the deposit of a coin, said means including a spring-motored timer arranged to be wound by action of one of said mechanisms during each cycle of operation thereof and to thereupon commence unwinding, said timer coacting with said auxiliary circuitclosing means to cause actuation of the latter after said timer has unwound to a predetermined point, thereby determining the extent of the interval of rest aforesaid.

5. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph comprising a record carrier, a playing mechanism and electrical means including a power circuit and a coin-operated circuit controller for normally actuating said carrier and playing mechanism: auxiliary means operative without actuation of said circuit controller by a coin for causing operation of said controller to close said circuit and thereby start a new cycle of operation of said carrier and playing mech anism after they have been at rest for an extended interval of time following the completion of a cycle of operation initiated by the deposit of a coin, said means including a timing device and means actuated by said carrierduring each cycle of operation for initiating action of said device, said timing device coacting with said auxiliary circuit-closing means to cause actuation of the latter after such device has been operating for a predetermined time, thereby determining the extent of the interval of rest aforesaid.

6. In a coin-controlled automatic record changing phonograph comprising a record carrier, playing mechanism and electrical means including a power circuit and a coin-operated circuit controller for normally causing operation of said carrier and playing mechanism: auxiliary means for periodicallyoperating said controller to close said circuit and thereby cause actuation of said playing mechanism without actuation of said circuit 1 controller by a coin, said means comprising a timing device,-means actuated by the record carrier during each cycle of operation for initiating action ofsaid-timing device in a timingperiod enduring-beyond the completion of a period of operation of said playing mechanism following; the completion of a cycle of operation initiated bythe deposit of a coin and into an interval and means coacting with said timing device and said auxiliary circuit-closing means for causing the closing of said circuit to actuate the playing mechanism at the end of said timing period, thereby determining the extent of the interval BERT E. MILLS.

thereafter when said mechanism may be at rest, 

